Display means for tool handles



April 1:, 1 969 'N. LINK DISPLAY MEANS FOR T'OOL HANDLES Filed Nov; 1.19s? lA/l/EN TOR United States Patent 3,435,945 DISPLAY MEANS FOR TOOLHANDLES Norman Link, Salem, Ind., assignor to 0. P. Link Handle Company,Inc., Salem, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Nov. 1, 1967, Ser. No.679,917 Int. Cl. B65d 85/00 US. Cl. 206-46 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE There is disclosed herein display means for merchandising areplacement tool handle comprising a handle, wedge means attached to thehandle, and a U-shaped suspension member inserted in the upper end ofthe handle.

conveniently make a selection of the handle suited to his particularneed. It is also important that he be able to remove the handle easilyfrom the display means for the purpose of examining it, checking itsgripping characteristics, and otherwise satisfying himself of thecorrectness of his choice. Each replacement handle preferably includeswedge means of the correct size whereby each unit displayed constitutesa complete kit for repairing a hand tool, it being unnecessary for thecustomer to separately select and purchase the wedge means.

The general object of this invention is to provide merchandise displaymeans adapted to display replacement tool handles in groups according tosize and shape.

Another object of this invention is to provide such display meanswherein the handles are easily removable for examination by thecustomer.

Still another object is to provide display means as set forth abovewherein simple suspension means is provided for suspending a pluralityof handles of like size and shape from a generally horizontally disposedrod carried by a display rack.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide sus pension means asset forth above which is simple and economic to manufacture, easilyattached to the handles, and highly reliable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in display means as setforth above, a generally U-shaped suspension member having leg portionsadapted to be driven into the upper end of a Wooden handle with aminimum tendency to split or crack the wood.

A still further object is to provide display means of the above typeproviding a customer With a selection of handle kits each of whichcomprises a handle and wedge means of the correct size for mounting saidhandle to a tool.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself are disclosed inthe following specification and accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of display means of this inventionincluding a replacement tool handle and suspension means therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a side plan view showing a plurality of suspended toolhandles;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail in elevation of the upper end portion ofthe tool handle shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the upper end portion of FIG- URE 3 as seen fromthe right-hand side thereof;

3,435,945 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevation of asuspension member as seen from one side, portions thereof being brokenaway;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation of the suspension member of FIGURE 5 as seenfrom the other side thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a view of the suspension member of FIGURES 5 and 6 as seenfrom the right-hand side of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference numerals, FIGURE 1 shows the entire display meanscomprising a tool handle 10 having a lowermost grip portion 11 and anuppermost shank 12. In the embodiment of the invention as hereinillustrated, the tool handle 10 is adapted for use with an ordinarycarpenters hammer and is made of wood. However, it Will be understoodthat the present invention is adapted for use in connection with othertypes of tool handles which may be made of other suitable materials.

The uppermost end portion of the: shank 12 is provided with an upwardlyopen, transverse slot 13 which extends downwardly a substantial distanceinto said shank. As will be readily understood by those familiar withthe art, the shank 12 is adapted to project upwardly through the eye ofthe tool head (not herein illustrated) after which wedge means aredriven into the transverse slot 13 to expand the shank 12 and cause itto have a tight frictional engagement with the tool head. To insure thatthe purchaser of the replacement handle is: provided with the properWedge means for the size handle being used, said replacement handle haswedge means 14 removably attached to the shank 12 by any suitable meanssuch as tape 15. In the present instance, the wedge means 14 comprise atapered wooden wedge 16 and a smaller tapered metal wedge 17.

The upper end portion of the shank 12 carries an upwardly projectingsuspension member 20 which is generally of inverted U-shaped form havingdownwardly projecting legs 21a and 211; which are driven into the upperend of the shank 12 alongside of the transverse slot 13. Said suspensionmember affords an eye adapted to loosely fit over a substantiallyhorizontal rod 22 which is carried by a support member 23 of a displayrack of any suitable design.

The suspension member 20 is shown in detail in FIGURES 5-7 and comprisesan upwardly arched central portion 24 and the aforementioned downwardlydirected legs 21a and 21b. As herein disclosed, said suspension memberis formed from a single length of steel wire, and the downwardlydirected end portions of said legs are sharpened to provide penetratingpoints 25a an 2511. As shown in FIGURE 5, the leg 21a has a front facingtapered surface 26a and a side tapered surface 27a, the side taperedsurface being disposed on the outer side of said leg. As shown in FIGURE6, the leg 21b is provided with a front facing tapered surface 26b and aside tapered surface 27b, the surface 27b being disposed on the innerside of said leg and generally parallel with the surface 27a. As aresult of the positioning of the aforementioned tapers, the lower endportions of the legs 21a and 21b are tapered laterally in the samedirection as seen in the elevations of FIGURES 5 and 6 and are taperedoutwardly in opposite directions as viewed in FIGURE 7.

In preparing the tool handle 10 for shipment and eventual display, saidhandles are provided with wedge means 14 of the correct side and type bydetachably taping the same to the shank portion 12 whereby a completekit is provided for repairing the tool handle. A suspension member 20 isdriven into the upper end of the handle whereby said handle can readilybe mounted for display upon a rod 22. In use of the replacement handle,the purchaser simply removes the suspension member 20, inserts the shankportion 12 into the tool socket, and then drives the wedge means 14 intothe slot 13 of the handle. The suspension members 20 may be provided indifferent sizes for suspending replacement handles 10 of different sizesand weights. It has been found that the particular tapering of the lowerend portion of the legs 21a and 21b affords easy penetration of theupper end of the handle with a minimal tendency to split or fracture thehandle. The penetrating legs 21a and 21b frictionally engage the upperend portion of the handle with sufficient force to obviate any tendencyfor the handles to drop off the display due to separation from thesuspension means even when subjected to substantial amounts of handlingand replacement on the rods 22 by retailers and customers.

What is claimed is:

1. Detachable display means for merchandising an elongated replacementhandle, said handle adapted to be used as an article of display andsubsequently as a replacement handle for the work head of a tool, saiddisplay means comprising the said elongated handle; a support memberhaving a rod projecting outwardly therefrom; a suspension member ofinverted U-shape form having downwardly projecting sharpened legs; saidlegs each having a front facing tapered surface and a side taperedsurface, one of said legs having its side tapered surface on the outerside of said leg and the opposite leg having its side tapered surface onthe inner side of said leg substantially parallel with the side taperedsurface on said other leg, the lower end portions of each of said legsbeing driven into one end of said handle with a substantial portion ofthe inverted U-shape projecting above said one end of said handle andsaid suspension member being threaded upon said rod whereby said handleis suspended from the said rod for display thereof.

2. Display means as set forth in claim 1: said handle having atransverse slot in one end thereof adapted to to receive wedge means forsecuring said handle to the work head of a tool; and wedge means forinserting into said slot detachably carried by said handle for purchasetherewith.

3. Display means as set forth in claim 1: said handle having a shankportion at said one end thereof; said shank portion having a transverseslot therein adapted to receive wedge means for securing said handle tothe work head of a tool; and wedge means of the correct size and typefor use with said handle detachably carried by said shank portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES B. MARBERT, PrimaryExaminer.

